Air conditioning apparatus



Feb 7 H95@ F. D. PELTIER Erm. 2,496,355

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS AGEA/7)' Fd@ R i9@ F n. PELTIERETAL AIR ncomnlomm APPARATUS Original Filed March `4, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 7 E950 F. D. PEM-IER ETAL. 2,496,355

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS original Filed March 4, 194e 4 sheets-sheet s Mb.. 7 H95@ F. D. PEL-HER ETAL' 21,495,355

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Original Filed Maych 4. 1948 4 Sheets--Sheefl 4 INVENTUM /Gl j'. #mm/f a. Pn r/m Y MATfO/V C. fik/9) Patented Feb. 7, 1950 AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Frank D. Peltier, Jenkintown, and Matson C.

Terry, Rydal, Pa., assignors to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Penn- Sylvania Original application March `4, 1948, Serial No. 13,037. Divided andthis application February 3, 1949, Serial N0. 74,362

s Claims. (o1. s2-129) The present invention relates to refrigeration apparatus, and is a division of our copending disclosure bearing Serial No. 13,037, led March 4, 1948. A method of and apparatus for shipping and handling such refrigeration apparatus is claimed in the said copending disclosure.

More particularly, this invention has to do with improvements in refrigeration systems, oi' the type used for example in air conditioning units, which improvements greatly facilitate repair and replacement of such systems. As set forth in the copending disclosure above referred to, the procedures involved in handling and servicing air conditioning apparatus have been unduly complex, particularly in View of the fact that it has not been possible readily to disassociate the sealed refrigerating system from the cabinet, independently of the fan motor and its associated blowers, which latter components do not generally require removal. Frequently, such independent removal could only be accomplished by uncoupling certain of the refrigerant flow conduits which connect the compressor, condenser and evaporator in series flow circuit. Then too, in many instances removal of the refrigerating system required virtually complete dismantling of the cabinet.

In general, with apparatus and procedures of the kind heretofore available. it has frequently proven that removal of an air conditioning system from the cabinet, for repair purposes, was practicable only at the factory, or at some Well equipped service depot.

Broadly, it is an object of this invention to overcome the aforesaid difficulties and disadvantages, by the provision of a novel sealed refrigeration systemincluding a compressor, condenser and evaporator arranged in series flow circuitwhich may be removed from its cabinet without the necessity f breaking the tubing connections between the elements, and Without movement of, or disturbance to, other major elements of the air conditioner unit.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus of such a nature as to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the system with the cabinet, associated blowers and the like included in said cabinet, as well as serving to support the system during shipping.

To the foregoing general ends, the invention contemplates the provision of a separable frame or "skeleton adapted to be superimposed across the top of an air conditioning unit, after the cover has been removed therefrom, and including means through the agency of which the system may be releasably coupled with the said frame for removal from the casing or housing.

Practice of the concepts of the said copending case, and utilization of the apparatus claimed herein result in a number of significant advantages, among the more important of which are the following:

A. The number of components to be inspected and reconditioned at the factory is reduced to a minimum.

B. The weight of parts and components to be shipped is similarly reduced, resulting in a less expensive crate and in lowered transportation charges.

C. Extremely rapid restoration of air conditioning service is possible, on the customers premises, Without the necessity of replacing the Yentire apparatus.

D. The inventory of service parts maintained in distributors and dealers' warehouses is reduced to a minimum.

E. The risk of damage to the decorative casing of the refrigerator or air conditioning unit is eliminated, since the system is removed while the decorative casing-as well as the fan motor and associated blowersmay be left on the customers premises.

F. The overall apparatus is considerably more attractive, from the sales point of view, since it lends itself particularly well to deferred. payment purchases. Companies financing such purchases desire that the unit be serviced on the customers premises, and prefer that a casing or cabinet remain with the purchaser, which cabinet carries a serial number serving as the identification on the deferred payment agreement.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects and advantages of our invention are realized, will be understood from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic plan View of air conditioning apparatus adapted for use with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view, in greater detail and on an enlarged scale, illustrating those portions of the apparatus which can all be simultaneously removed without uncoupling any of the interconnecting tubing;

Figure 3 is an exploded, perspective illustration showing a shipping crate which may advantageously be employed in accordance with the broader teaching of our invention, and in the said frames and indicating the-manner rin which said system may be introduced into or withdrawn from an air conditioner casing; and.,

Figure is a sectional view illustratingv the vmanner -in which the skeletal frame may be readily secured to the refrigeratin'g system.

Now making more detailed reference to Figure l which, by way of example, illustrates air con- .ditioning apparatus with which theinvention is particularly useful, it will be seen that the apparatus comprises a casing, designated generally 7 by the reference numeral I0, which casing encloses a refrlgerating system comprising a motorcompressor I I, a condenser I2, an evaporator I3, andV associated conduits through the agency of which said compressor, condenser and evaporator are coupled in series flow circuit. These conduits include a discharge line I4, through which coml pressed refrigerant is delivered to the condenser.

I2, `a feed line I5 which, as shown, comprises a continuously open restricted connection, through which the liquifled refrigerant is fed to the means, thatfsaid system may be disassociated evaporator for expansion therein. As illustrated,

a strainer I6 maybe included in the feed line, and a suction conduit I'I--a portion of which is provided with suitable thermal insulationserves to return the volatilized refrigerant to the compressor II. Disposed in generally axial parallelism with the above-described sealed system is air-moving apparatus including a motor I8, and a pair of blowers I9 and 20 which, respectively,

are adapted to cause circulation of air across the said evaporator I3 and the condenser I2.

As indicated at 2 I, the cabinet is provided with a partition serving to divide the same into an evaporator chamber 22 and a condensing chamber 23, that portion of the cabinet which'comprises the evaporator-chamber (the portion lying to the left of dashed line 24 in Figure 1) is adapted to extend into a room or zone to be conditioned, while the portion of the cabinet lying to 4 the right of said dashed line 24 extends outwardi ly of said room, preferably through a window opening thereof.

The evaporator chamber 22 is, in turn, subdivided by means of 'a partition 25, into a section housing the blower I 9 and a portion within which is disposed the evaporator I3. Suitable air ingress vand egress openings indicated at 2B and 21, respectively, provide for circulation of room air into the casing I0, through a filter 23, thence into the blower I9, which is preferably of the centrifugal type, from whence it is forced through 'evaporator I3 and subsequently redelivered to the room or space to be conditioned. The condensing unit is cooled by outside air flowing into the chamber 23 through inlet openings 29 and 30, from whence it is directed through the condenser I2 by the blower 20, and iinally delivered to the outside atmosphere through a port represented at 3i.

insofar as the present invention is concerned, further and more detailed description of the construction and operation of the air-controlling means is not necessary herein. However, if desired, reference may be had to the copending application of Edward L. Hart, bearing Serial No. 15,383, and led March 17, 1948, wherein are fully disclosed and claimed certain features of the apparatus illustrated in Figure l.

As will n ow be' described, the compressor, con'- denser and evaporator which comprise the refrigeration system are so relatively disposed, and oriented with respectito the air flow-controlling' To these general ends, and'to realize the obi jects and advantages enumerated above, the invention provides for ready and convenient removal of said system from the cabinet or housing, as a unitary assembly. and for introduction of a replacement unit or system, in which connection reference will be had to Figures 2 to 4, inclusive.

As clearly appears in Figures 2 and 4, the partition 2 I, and a corresponding partition 2Ia which serves to subdivide that portion of the cabinet which houses the condensing unit, are both providedfwith reentrant portions or notches shown, respectively, at 32 and 33, which notches immediately underlie the top wall or coverof the 'cabinet (not illustrated) and through which pass ber, said channels being. so dimensioned and disposed as to provide support for the evaporator I3 andthe condenser I2, respectively. Cooperable with the channel 34, and enective to support forward hanging 36 of evaporator I3,v is a vertically extending flange 3l. As is apparent from consideration of Figures 2 and 4, the evaporator is rmly but removably supported withinthe housing I0 with its rear face engaged within thechannel 34 and one of its forward edges supported by the vertically extending flange 31. The condenser is supported within the condenser chamber in a similar manner and, accordingly, such support need not be described in detail.

, As appears to best advantage in Figure 2, the compressor II is provided with laterally extending feet 33, which feet are resiliently supported upon the oor of the cabinet through the agency of resilient springs or washers, which appear at 39 in Figure' 2. The described system may be withdrawn from the cabinet as a unit, and, as best illustrated in Figure 4, without disturbing the refrigerant flow conduits or necessitating re- .moval of the blowers orthe blower motor.

To facilitate such removal, as welll as subsequent handling of the system, the invention provides the aforementioned skeletal frame which is designated, generally, at 40. This frame and the manner in which-it is adapted to support the system is described in what follows, and it should be borne in mind that two such frames may advantageously be employed during practice of this invention, as will be fully set 'forth hereinafter.

The skeleton-or frame comprises rigid angle sections 4I disposed peripherally of the frame area, and three cross channels 42, 43 and 44, each of which spans thewidth or the frame and is suitably secured tothe peripheral framing elements 4I. The channel members 42 and 44 are so disposed and relatively arranged as to overlie the evaporator and the condenser, respectively, when the frame is placed upon the open top of the cabinet I II. Each of said channels 42 and 44 is provided with a pair of apertures, one of which apertures extend fastening assemblies 46, said assemblies being slidable within apertures 45 and each carrying a laterally projecting support member 4l disposed for engagement beneath a horizontally disposed iiange 48 extending from the coil to be supported. The center channel 43 is also apertured to accommodate mounting elements 49, which latter are employed in support of the comypressor Il. Y

As will now be understood, the system to be removed is coupled to the channels 42, 43 and 44 through the agency of the elements 46 and 49. after which the system may be readily removed from the cabinet. During such removal the refrigerant flow conduits are withdrawn from the notches 32 and 33 formed, respectively, in the upper edges of partitions 2l and 21a.

To provide a full understanding of the present invention, an advantageous shipping and handling procedure is now described. It is to be understood, of course, that the construction and relative association of the supporting skeleton itil, and of the components of the system to be supported thereby, are such as to accommodate a variety of service and handling operations which may be encountered in practice. However, the following example well illustrates the advantages of our invention.

' In manufacture, the units or systems to be shipped are built up on a temporary shop base which holds the compressor, condenser and evaporator in the relative positions illustrated in Figures 3 and i. completed, and charged, and is ready for shipment, one of the skeletal frames 4D is attached to the system in the manner fully described above, and the resultant unitary assembly is then lowered within a crate of the type illustrated at 5U, in Figure 3. For purposes of illustration, the forward side 5I of the shipping crate is shown as removed from said crate, and it will be seen that the crate is provided with support structures 52 and 5i! adapted, respectively, to support the evaporator i3 and the condenser I2, when the system is packed for shipment. Intermediate said support structures 52 and 53 the crate carries a block 5d having upwardly extending fastening elements 55 adapted to be received within the laterally extending feet 33 of compressor il.

When introduced within the crate, the system is and unitarily connecting the components of the system, and of maintaining the system Within the crate in spaced relation with the walls of said crate.

As will be evident, the unit is now supported for shipment. However, prior to such shipment, an additional frame (shown at 50a, in Figure 3) is preferably inserted within the crate, being carried by the upper surface of frame 4I] and securely positioned by the overlying cover 51. After fastening of the crate cover 51, the unit or system is shipped, for example, to the home of a customer whose apparatus is in need of service.

Upon arrival, the service operation is very rapidly and simply accomplished by removing the frame 40a from the crate, coupling said frame to the unit to be serviced, after which the said unit is withdrawn from the cabinet. The re- When the assembly has been placement unit is then inserted in said cabinet, with the Vcondenser and evaporator supported in the manner set forth above, and the apparatus is again ready for operation. As will be evident, the unit to be repaired is then placed within the shipping crate 50 and the frame 40-which provided support for the replacement unit-is .placed within the crate upon the upper surface of frame 40a which now supports the unit to be repaired.

From the foregoing description it will now be understood that the novel apparatus of this invention results in substantial simplcation of service procedures and additionally, greatly increases the number of service operations which may be carried out on the customers premises, without opening any refrigerant flow conduits. The latter feature is particularly advantageous Where hermetically sealed systems are concerned, since such systems are not ordinarily provided with service shut-ofi valves.

We claim:

1. In air conditioning apparatus: evaporator, compressor and condenser elements; a housing having an open top; partition means within said housing defining evaporator, compressor and condenser chambers; means releasably supporting said evaporator, compressor and condenser elements each within a corresponding one of said chambers, said partition means having reentrant portions opening toward said open top, said evaporator, compressor and condenser elements being provided with flow conduits interconnecting said elements in refrigerant iiow circuit, said conduits extending across said partition means and through said reentrant portions; and a support member extending across and releasably secured to each of said elements to provide a rigid unitary assembly, said assembly being removable from said housing through said open top without interference from said partition means and without disconnection of said flow conduits.

2. In air conditioning apparatus: a, top-access housing; upstanding partition means within said housing dividing the same into evaporator and condenser chambers; an evaporator element Within said evaporator chamber; a compressor element and a condenser element within said condenser chamber, air propelling means and associated duct work within said housing cooperable to direct cooling air in heat exchange relation with said condenser element and air to be cooled in heat exchange relation with said evaporator ellement; support structure spanning said evaporator, compressor and condenser elements and detachably secured thereto to provide a rigid unitary assembly in which said elements are maintained in pre'- determined relation with respect to said air propelling means and said duct Work; and refrigerant flow conduits interconnecting said elements and extending across said partition means, said assembly including said conduits being withdrawable through the top of said housing independently of said air propelling means and said duct Work.

3. In air conditioning apparatus: a top-access housing; upstanding partition means within said housing dividing the same into evaporator and condenser chambers; an evaporator element within said evaporator chamber; a compressor element and a condenser element within said condenser chamber, said elements having upwardly presented surfaces lying substantially in a common plane; air propelling means and associated duct work within said housing cooperable to direct cooling air in heat exchange relation with 7 said condenser element and air to be cooled in heat exchange relation with said evaporator element; a support member overlying the upwardly presented surfaces of said elements and detachably secured thereto to provide a rigid unitar`y assembly in which said elements are maintained in predetermined relation with respect to said air propelling means and said duct work; and refrigerant iiow conduits interconnecting said elements and extending across an upper edge portion of said partition means, the construction and relative disposition of said unitary assembly, said air propelling means and said duct work being such that said assembly-including said con'- 8 duits-is withdrawable through the top of said housing independently o1' said air propelling l means and said duct work. FRANK D. PELTIER.

MATSON C. TERRY.

l REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patentz- UNITED STATES `IIPA'IEN'IIB COhler June 14, 19,49 

